Customer Reviews

The New Basic Black: Home Training for Modern Times -- Revised Edition

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great book to answer those questions that your mama and grandmama can't help you with. Anything and everything related to social situations that are part of the African-American community are in this book, as well as, what good manners are.

I bought this book so long ago, but never reviewed it... basically it has all your basics for proper etiquette.

I purchased it for my boyfriend who was, let's just say- not trained in manners. Many of the people in life, pre-college, were people with a "hood-mentality". We're totally opposite, as my mom taught my sisters and I how to act when we go in public, how to be proper etc etc... and what happened was that my boyfriend would sometimes do things that were, lets just say... embarrassing.

Once at a ball event, we entered a room and were going to our purchased seats, the people at the table greeted us, and I thought that my boyfriend was going to pull back the seat I was eyeing so that I could sit-down... instead he pulled it back then SAT DOWN HIMSELF. It was soooooo embarrassing because everyone was looking- any they all had the "omg" face. Anyway I decided to get this book for him after that...

I gave it to him, wrote a nice message in the front cover, and hoped that he'd read it. And well, we're broken up now... I'm not sure if he ever really read it, but I know he has skimmed it. My suggestion would be to read a passage weekly with your significant other, or whomever you purchased this for.

Overall its a nice book and I plan to purchase another just to have as a reference book.

If you're a mom or someone buying this for your daughter or for yourself to have around, I would also purchase: The Modern Girl's Guide to Life. This is a cute book to have as well that will help you to know what to do, or what to do properly in certain situations like- throwing/planning a dinner party, what to bring when attending a dinner party, etc.

Plus this book is so inexpensive now on here opposed to when I bought it, so if you're thinking of whether or not to get it- for $4.40 plus shipping why not?

This book is a must for people who are moving up. It is unfortunate. Many people do not know basic etiquette. Who should be tipped? What is a proper wedding gift or baby gift? This book helps out the reader. Read it. Many people will learn things that they will not know.

This book is part of a collection of books that I have related to etiquette and lifestyle. It is an excellent tool for African-Americans and people of any ethnicity or background.

I find it disturbing that one reviewer here on Amazon called the book racist. There's nothing racist about the book. The target audience is African-American, so naturally the content speaks to people who happen to be African-American. The feedback is ridiculous and is the equivalent of saying that Emily Post was racist in her writing.

Basic Black, Emily Post and Miss Manners all work well together! Enjoy the read.

This a a must have. While it targets African American households, everyone can use. It is well written and easy to use. The index is extremely helpful and easy to follow. I highly recommend for people who may have questions about etiquette. Most of your questions will be answered.

I found this book in my library and was stunned to see that I was the first person to check it out. The book stamp was 2006. I was fortunate to have a mom that taught me a lot about matters and such. I still read it because my husband and I are about to start having children, and I wanted to read up on some of things I may have missed along the way. I recommend this book to all mothers and women especially those with or who care for bi-racial or black children. WE have to set the standard. BTW... I love Emily Post as well.

I read some parts of this racist book, the main premise of which is that manners are color-based--not culture-based. For example, did you know that if you give a housewarming or wedding gift, you should consider giving something that's "afro-centric"? I suppose that, since I have white ancestry, I should present some Klan paraphernalia at the next office party. No other book on etiquette I've read suggests anything anything so in-your-face as that. I can say with some certainty that other etiquette advisors (including Emily Post and Miss Manners) do not provide advice on such situations as walking in on vigorous adulterous situations that the author apparently believes are commonplace. (The author's advice: Close the door quietly and say nothing to anyone! Common-sense advice: Scream to put an immediate end to the act!)